Faculty union: Health care's big in negotiations with PASSHE

Health care remains a major issue in negotiations with the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education, the union that represents faculty at its 14 universities reported after a six-hour session Friday.

However, an APSCUF blog post said significant differences remain between the parties on distance education and active and retiree health care.

"PASSHE has not yet negotiated a health care package design with any of its employees not in the Pennsylvania Employees Benefit Trust Fund, and it falls to APSCUF to negotiate this benefit," the post said.

According to APSCUF, faculty already pay the highest percentage of premium of any union in the state, and PASSHE pays an annual per-faculty-member amount for health care that currently totals $13,572.84, with PASSHE paying less if it has not reached the maximum number of claims.

PASSHE's latest word on the issue was on Jan. 3, when spokesman Kenn Marshall released a statement including the following:

"Increases in healthcare costs for both active and retired employees, combined with rapidly rising pension costs, are placing unsustainable financial pressure on the universities. In this regard, PASSHE is no different from the federal or state governments, or most other organizations, all of which have identified increasing costs in these areas as urgent problems that must be addressed. We have no alternative. We must agree to new approaches before these costs overwhelm the System. PASSHE's 14 universities are facing incredible and ever-increasing competition; business as usual is simply unacceptable."

Negotiations are scheduled to continue on Jan. 11, and the APSCUF blog said, "Meanwhile, the faculty continue to prepare for collective action should it be necessary to obtain a fair contract." In the fall, members authorized their negotiators to call a strike if they deem it necessary.